Plug protector



May 27, 1924. 1,495,215 I S. WILLIAMS PLUG PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 26, 1922 Patented May 27, 1924 FFHCE.

STERLING WILLIAMS, OEF GAIL, TEXAS.

PLUG PROTECTOR.

Application filed October 26, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STERLING WILLIAMS,

\ a citizen of the United States, residing at Gail, in the county of Borden and State of Texas, have invented a new and-useful Plug Protector, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device which will serve to space a spark plug from the combustionchamber of an internal combustion engine, so that the plug will not collect carbon rapidly, means being provided for housing and protecting the plug, and means being supplied whereby a spark gap will be created, novel means being afforded for holding the constituent parts of the device together.

It isWithin the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, parts appearing in elevation; Figure 2 is a transverse section, most parts appearing in plan Figure 3 is a fragmental longitudinal section showing a modified form of the invention; Figure 4 is a bottom plan of the structure shown in Figure 3.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a casing denoted generally by the numeral 1, the casing including a cup-shaped base 2, made of metal, ordinarily, and including a reduced tubular extension 3 merging into a neck 4 of less diameter than the extension 3, the neck 4 being threaded at 5 into the cylinder 6 of an internal combustion engine.

The casing 1 embodies an inverted cupshaped cap 7 made of non-conducting and refractory material. If desired, the cap 7 may be transparent, although this detail is not-insisted upon. At its lower end, the cap 7 is supplied with a circumferential flange 8 received within an upstanding circumferen- Serlal N0. 597,049.

tial flange 9 on the case 2. The partition 10 extends across the cap 7 and is located adjacent to the upper end of the cap, the partition forming an outer chamber 11, an inner chamber 12 existing within the base 2 and the cap 7, below the partition 10. A terminal 14 is mounted in the upper end of the cap 7 and extends downwardly into the outer chamber 11, the terminal 14 carrying any suitable means, such as a nut 15, for retaining a conductor. A terminal 16 is mounted in the partition 10 and extends into the outer chamber 11 and into the inner chamber 12 of the casing 1. That end-of the terminal 16 7 which projects into the chamber 12 is supplied with any suitable means for engaging a spark plug, for instance a foot 17, having a threaded bore 18. The numeral 19 marks a spark plug, provided with a threaded elec- .7

trode 20, the base 21 of the spark plug being threaded into the extension 3 of the base 2 of the casing 1. I

In practical operation, the cap 7 is rotated, thereby causing the foot 17 of the terminal 16 to engage with the electrode20 of the spark plug 19, the cap 7 thus being held on'the base 2, the flanges 8 and 9 being interengaged, as shown in Figure 1. The current, traversing the terminal 14, jumps to the terminal 16 and passes into the spark plug. A spark ap thus is provided and the spark is intensi ed. The spark jumps from one terminal to the other in the closed chamber 11 and it will be impossible for the terminals the engine and, as a consequence, the points 22 will not collect carbon so rapidly as would be the case if they were more prominently presented with respect to the combustion chamber. The fuel, however, finds its way readily into the neck 3 and the efficiency of the spark plu will in no wise be impaired.

Although it is not absolutely necessary that the cap 7 be made of transparent material, it is tobe observed that if the cap is made of transparent material, the spark may be observed, whilst it is jumping from the terminal 14 to the terminal 16.

Noting Figure 1 it will be observed 95 In Figure 3 of the drawings, the base of th casing is denoted by the numeral and includes a reduced tubular extension 26 merging into a neck 27 threaded at 28 into the cylinder 29 of an internal vcombustion engine, the spark plug appearing at 30 and including a base 31 threaded into the part 26 of the casing, all as hereinbefore' explained, the upper portionof the device shown in Figure 3 being constructed like the upper portion of the device shown in Figure 1.

The neck 27 has an internal shoulder 32. A guard disk- 33 is threaded downwardly into the neck 27, into engagement with the shoulder 32, the shoulder preventing the disk 33 from working its way into the engine cylinder. The guard disk 33 has oppositely disposed slots 34 defining a central bridge 35 carrying an electrode 36' projecting toward the central electrode 37 on the spark plug 30, the side electrode on the spark plug being removed, bent out of the way, or otherwise rendered inoperative.

The guard disk 33 aids in preventing the accumulation of carbon on the spark plug, and prevents oil from being thrown on the spark plug,should the engine happen to be passing oil. If oil should happen to be thrown through the slots 34, on the electrode 36, the oil will run downwardly along the electrode 36, away from the spark gap between the electrodes 36 and 37. whereas, when oil accumulates on the angular side electrode of Figural, the oil tends to flow along that electrode, toward the central electrode, thereby fouling the spark gap.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a casing having spaced chambers and provided with means for retaining a spark plug in one chamber; and jump spark terminals extended into the other chamber, one of the terminals embodying means for engaging a spark plug.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing having means for retaining a spark plug; and jump spark terminals in the casing, one of the terminals embodying means for engaging a spark plug.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a base and a cap, the base provided with means for cooperating with a spark plug to advance the cap toward the I base and to hold the cap on the base.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a base and a cap, the base being provided with means for retaining a spark plug; and jump spark terminals car-- ried by the cap, one of the terminals being supplied. with means for engaging a spark plug positively, thereby to hold the base on the cap.

.6. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a base and a-cap; a spark plug mounted in the base; and jump spark terminals carried by the cap, one of the ter minals having threaded connection with the spark plug and constituting means for holding the cap on the base.

7 In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a base and a cap; and a terminal carried by the cap, the terminal having means for engaging a spark plug positively, to hold the cap on the base, the base embodying means for retaining a spark plug.

8 In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a base and a cap, the base having means for retaining a spark plug; and a terminal carried by the cap, the terminal being threaded to engage a spark plug, thereby to hold the cap on the base.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a base and a cap; a spark plug seated in the base; and a terminal carried by the cap, the terminal being threaded upon the spark plug.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, STERLING WILLIAMS. Witnesses: V

Jenn Jomrrsou', I). Donw. 

